JPH0318191A - Videophone with message transmission function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Field of Industrial Application" This invention relates to a video telephone with a message transmission function that transmits audio information and video information over a public telephone line, and in particular to a video telephone with a message transmission function that transmits audio information and video information over a public telephone line. In addition, there is a videophone with a message transmission function that can also transmit message information. "Prior art" An example of transmitting images using a videophone is shown in Part 5.
This will be explained with a diagram.

First, an image of the operator 27 is converted into an electrical signal by the built-in camera 10, and after the signal level is adjusted by the video human power unit l1, it is manually input to the A/D converter l2.
The analog data is converted into digital data in the A/D converter 12 where the image data is input manually, and the image memory 6
Temporarily stored in

Here, the operator 27 uses an operation instruction switch (not shown)
Instructs to send an image. In response to the image transmission instruction, the data stored in the image memory 6 is subjected to processing such as compression by the image processing section 5, and encoded by the encoding circuit 4. Furthermore, the information is multiplexed in the communication interface 2, output to a communication line 1 such as a public telephone line, and transmitted to the other party's video phone.

``Problem to be solved by the invention'' The image that can be transmitted with conventional videophones is the image taken by the built-in camera when the operator gives the transmission instruction, so it may be difficult to transmit images when the operator is taking a bath and is not properly dressed. In some cases, such as when the operator is in poor health and does not want to show his or her face to the other party, the image is sent regardless of the convenience of the operator.

Furthermore, if the operator is inconvenient, he or she must issue a transmission instruction, but at that time, the other party's videophone does not display an image and cannot function as a videophone. This invention was made in view of the above points. For example, if you receive a phone call while you are taking a bath or putting on makeup and you answer the phone in a hurry, you can send an appropriate message instead of sending an image of the operator. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a video phone with a message transmission function that can perform the functions of a TV Wl phone to answer calls. ``Means for Solving the Problems'' In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, an arbitrary character pattern is generated for message display in a videophone that transmits and communicates audio information and video information from a built-in camera. It is equipped with a pattern generation means for generating a pattern, an image memory for storing message information composed of the pattern information, and an encoding means for transmitting the message information, and is capable of transmitting message information in addition to video information from the built-in camera. This is a characteristic feature. ``Function'' According to the present invention, when the operator does not want the other party to see the image due to the operator's convenience, such as when the operator is taking a bath, putting on makeup such as a bag, or wearing underwear, the built-in The 41114F. can send messages instead of images captured by the camera, and can be used as a video phone. It becomes possible to send images with images without damaging them. "Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of the video telephone with message transmission II function according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television T-phone with a message transmission function according to the present invention.It can be roughly divided into an audio processing system and a video processing system, each of which is controlled and processed by a system control unit 15. Audio information, video information, and control informationffl (dial number) output from the TV station #li machine
is connected to the communication line 1 (digital line) via the communication interface 2 and transmitted. In this communication interface 2, two information channels and one control signal channel are demultiplexed. In other words, from communication line I to rj! When going from the image processing unit 5 and the audio processing unit 16 to the fi image processing unit 5 and the audio processing unit 16, separation is performed, while when going from the image processing unit 5 and the audio processing unit 16 to the communication line 1, multiplexing is performed.

First, the audio signal processing system will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, the voice processing unit 16 to which the receiver 17 and the transmitting BIB are connected is controlled and processed by the system system [81δ].

That is, at the time of reception, the system control unit 15 feeds the digital audio information signal from the other party via the information channel to the audio processing unit 16, performs processing such as D/A conversion, and converts it into an analog audio signal. and this audio signal is fed to the handset 17. Also, when sending,
An analog audio signal is supplied from the transmitter 81B of the audio processing unit 16, and processed through A/D conversion etc. to form a digital audio information signal.
The data is supplied as an information channel signal to the communication interface 2 via all, where it is multiplexed and transmitted to the other party (receiving IN Il1) via communication line l. In addition, l9 is call control +! slIt! This call control section l9 is connected to the system control section l5. The call control laj section 19 performs call origination and general call processing for line connection using a control signal channel. Further, an operation signal from the operation unit 21 for inputting a dial number when making a call is supplied to the system control unit 15 via the operation interface 2o and processed. Next, the video signal processing system will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image memory 6 to which a display 9, a built-in camera 10, and an image processing section 5 are connected temporarily stores image information at the time of transmission and reception under the control of the system control section 15. When receiving image information, after the received image information is separated at the communication interface 2,
The decoding circuit 3 manually decodes the serial digital information into parallel digital information, and further
! ii After the compressed received information is decompressed in the image processing section 5, it is temporarily stored in the image memory 6. The image data stored in the image memory 6 should be output to the display 9. It is converted into an analog video signal by the D/A converter 7, adjusted to an appropriate level by the video output section 8, and output to the display 9. The image of the other party is displayed. Furthermore, when transmitting image information, the analog video signal (t!! image of the person) received by the built-in camera 10 is adjusted to an appropriate level by the video human power section l1! l! l! ! The data is converted into digital data by an A/D converter l2, and temporarily stored in the image memory 6 via an input switching circuit l3, which will be described later. The image data stored in the image memory 6 is
The A conversion W7 is monitored by the display 9 via the video output unit 8, and is subjected to processing such as image compression in the image processing unit 5 under the control of the system control unit 15, and is converted into a high-efficiency code by the encoding circuit 4. digitization processing is applied to form a digital image information signal. This is then supplied to the communication interface 2 as an information channel signal, multiplexed, and transmitted to the other party via the communication line 1 (digital line). Now, if you do not want to send the image to the other party due to the operator's convenience, for example, if you are in underwear after taking a bath, or if you are wearing make-up or a disheveled look, etc., you can use the built-in camera lO
Message information generated by the pattern generation section 14 is transmitted instead of the video from the . At that time, when the operator operates the operation section 2l to instruct message transmission,
A control signal is output from the system control section 15 to the pattern generation section 14, and at the same time, the input switching circuit 13 is switched, and a message is transmitted instead of the image from the built-in camera 10.

The operation around the pattern generating section 14 described above will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 12, a CPU 22 that controls operation instructions, switching, etc. has a program ROM 23 and a work RAM 2.
It works on 4. First, the CPU 22 receives the operation instruction signal A for message transmission, selects the message number in the message ROM 25, transfers the pattern data of the instructed message to the manual switching circuit 13, and also transfers the image data of the built-in camera IO and the message A manual switching control signal B for switching data is output, and the message data is stored in the image memory 6. Thereby, any message data selected by the operator can be transmitted to the other party's device.

The message pattern stored in the message ROM 215 is, for example, as shown in Figure 3: ``Excuse me. (Slightly small on the top row) Taking a bath! (Large)'' (Message)) With a face photo, ``This is O○ko.'' ” (Message 2), with a large portrait saying ``This is my husband.'' (Message 3)
〉 In the r pack (larger on the top row) Excuse me. (Small size at the bottom)” (Message n) etc. The number n of message patterns stored in the message ROM 25 is determined within the capacity of the message ROM 25. The video telephone 26 with a message transmission function that transmits such a message pattern, for example, as shown in FIG. A built-in camera IO is placed on the front, and a switch block 2 including a message changeover switch (manual changeover) 13, a numeric keypad 29, and a handset 30 are placed on the diagonal front side. "Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the present invention, message information can be transmitted in addition to video information from the built-in camera. When the operator does not want to send an image due to circumstances such as time, it is now possible to send a message with a pre-prepared pattern, and it is also possible to send a small memo, expanding the uses of the videophone. effective.

1 ◆ 6　● 9・ 10　● １　３　● l　4　● 1　7　● 1　8　・ ・Communication line ●Image memory ·display ◆Built-in camera ・Manual switching circuit ・Pattern generation part ・Telephone receiver ・Telephone

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a video telephone with a message transmission function according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a message pattern generation section, FIG. 3 is a front view showing several examples of message patterns, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a video telephone with a message transmission function, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional example.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a videophone that transmits and communicates audio information and video information from a built-in camera, a pattern generating means that generates an arbitrary character pattern for message display, and an image that stores message information composed of the pattern information. A video telephone with a message transmission function, comprising a memory and an encoding means for transmitting message information, and capable of transmitting message information in addition to video information from a built-in camera.